Microsoft to Acquire Connectix?

[MacRumors]

This CRN article (http://www.crn.com/sections/BreakingNews/breakingnews.asp?ArticleID=40038) reports that Microsoft is acquiring Connectix:


The software giant, which is expected to formally unveil the deal Thursday, will use the technology to allow customers to carve out multiple partitions on a single Intel-based server, allowing them to run multiple instances of a single operating system and multiple workloads.


While Microsoft seems most interested in Connectix's Virtual Server software, which allows multiple instances of an operating system to be running... Connectix also publishes Virtual PC -- a Windows emulator for the Macintosh platform.

[Kodex]

Well they will get theirs when Apple releases OS X for the intels.
First post?

[backspinner]

this sounds bad to me

[CrackedButter]

Looks like we will have to wait till thursday.

[michaelyoung]

d'oh!


there goes virtual PC..

Microsofts answer to OSX on Intel?

[pncc]

bye bye Virtual PC for mac. It was nice knowing you.

MS will likely not kill it outright, but don't expect much support for it and no VPC 7.0
:(

[LosJackal]

I'll be really bummed if they discontinue Virtual PC for the Mac.

Oops. Been said already. So much for "0 comments" on the home page.

[mustang_dvs]

Not that it's a great comparison, as Connectix was never a Mac-only company, but it just seems that the Beast of Redmond is looking to swallow the one company that ensures the Mac can work with every single PC-only application that is used in the workplace (*ahem* Access *ahem*).

But, no, Microsoft doesn't have, use, or take advantage of its monopoly. Not at all...

[QuiteSure]

Every sale of a VPC unit equals a sale of a Windows license. Why should Redmond stop that? Gates may decide to turn all of the macworld into "Switchers" by accelerating the development of VPC.

[Das]

Anyone else reminded of the whole Sony/Connectix Virtual Game Station buyout?

[rafaelperini]

From MacCentral

Microsoft acquires Virtual PC from Connectix
by Jim Dalrymple, jdalrymple@maccentral.com
February 19, 2003 2:50 pm ET

Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday announced that they had acquired Connectix Corp.'s Virtual PC products, including Virtual PC for Mac, Virtual PC for Windows and Virtual Server. Microsoft also hired many of the Connectix employees that worked on the products to continue development.

"What this means for Mac users is that Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit (MacBU) will be responsible for supporting and shipping all current versions of Virtual PC and development for all future versions of the product," Tim McDonough, director of marketing and business development for the Macintosh Business Unit, told MacCentral.

The MacBU has made several announcements recently for Mac users, including forthcoming support for Exchange servers in Entourage and MSN for Mac OS X. Development of the next version of Microsoft Office is also ongoing, something McDonough says shows the ongoing commitment of the MacBU to the platform.

"This is just another sign that we're committed to the Mac by broadening the products we bring to the platform," said McDonough. "This is a product we will continue to offer and improve."

McDonough said that the acquisition of Virtual PC fits in well with the MacBU's strategy of offering Mac users compatibility with their Windows using counterparts. Applications like Microsoft Office allow near seamless integration between platforms and the MacBU will work to make Virtual PC work even better with the Windows OS and Windows-based Microsoft applications.

"This fits very well with how we look at our strategy -- this is all about compatibility," said McDonough. "Our products are all about letting Mac users be compatible with people running Windows; this is a natural extension of that strategy."

While Microsoft has no immediate plans to change Virtual PC for Mac, they do have a development team, marketing and planning teams already in place and are evaluating the product line. Microsoft is looking at the current product roadmap from Connectix and will decide where to take the product at a later date.

With the inclusion of Virtual PC into the product line of the MacBU, Microsoft will now support the Virtual PC application, the operating system that runs in Virtual PC and any Windows-based Microsoft applications that run in Virtual PC.

The goal for the MacBU is to have seamless compatibility between Windows and Mac OS X, according to McDonough.

"We think this is a great thing for the future of Virtual PC," said McDonough. There is probably nobody better than the Mac Business Unit at Microsoft to bring Windows onto the Mac."

[DHagan4755]

Time for Apple to release the dogs!

[crassusad44]

Originally posted by QuiteSure
Every sale of a VPC unit equals a sale of a Windows license. Why should Redmond stop that? Gates may decide to turn all of the macworld into "Switchers" by accelerating the development of VPC.

Sure hope you're right. I'm still torn over the fact that Bungie is now owned by M$.

BUT. The deal hasn't been announced yet, and may not even happen... Let's keep our fingers crossed.

[edit: DAMN, didn't see rafaelperini's post....]

[Jaykay]

God damn it are microsoft just trying to buy out every good company there is? ugghh they annoy me....

[Bear]

All I can say is I hope VirtualPC 6.01 holds me until I don't need it anymore.

[Stelliform]

Yeah I am going to pick up my copy quick. Because without Virtual PC Apple will have less switchers. (There is always one custom App that the PC user has to have. And Virtual PC was always my Ace in the hole.)

[frogmella]

This means that the same MacBU that brought you the glacially slow IE, and Office X with its 32 character filenames, will be maintaining this app which is a key trojan horse for Macs into Windoze offices.

I don't see any strategic reason for M$ to continue to allow Mac users to run Windoze apps. I think they'll EoL it.

But didn't there use to be other x86 emulators - SoftPC rings a bell. I wonder who owns them now, and if they could be resurrected?

[morlium]

Originally posted by Jaykay
God damn it are microsoft just trying to buy out every good company there is? ugghh they annoy me....

sure ... but if Apple bought it, everyone would be stoked.

[Backtothemac]

Just bring back the PCI card with a PC on it. Why not? That worked before right.

[nickgold]

Why is everybody freaking out? The Mac BU which, despite some issues, is actually one of the best units at MS, is going to be absorbing the parts of Connectix that were working on virtual PC beforehand. If anything, this is POSITIVE, as it means MS will have more ability to optimize the function of Windows under Mac OS X.

Yes, Microsfot is The Beast, yadda yadda. But not every acquisition is the end of the world. Remember -- Microsoft and Apple have a pretty decent relationship, MS owns Apple shares, etc. Microsoft needs Apple, because Apple innovates, and MS copies. Without Apple, MS will have nowhere to go -- they would be stuck at Win XP for the rest of time.

I can see it now... Win XP, Bicentennial Edition! heheh

[BenRoethig]

Worst case: MS cans Virtual PC. Plan and simple

Best case: Microsoft's BMU uses their knowledge of Windows and MacOS X to fix the short commings VPC. Of course with MS pricing policies it will cost close a grand.

Personally, I'm a pessimist on this issue.

[Doctor Q]

Virtual PC is at risk since Microsoft may or may not decide to kill it, based on their interests, not ours. Ironically, Microsoft is also the best-positioned company to keep it up to date with new Windows releases and to make sure it works with Microsoft's Windows applications. If Microsoft did kill Virtual PC, that would open up the market again and another company willing to do the development or buy the rights could step in, so we'd eventually end up back where we started.

[vniow]

Originally posted by Backtothemac
Just bring back the PCI card with a PC on it. Why not? That worked before right.


What about the people with notebooks or i/eMacs?

Where are they going to plug in a PCI card?

[GPTurismo]

I am beginning to hate the technology market.

[MacsRgr8]

This can't be serious....
Why would M$ want to do this? They earn money already off it don't they?
Do they want to control the software capable of running on VPC?
Or do they want to stop Mac Office.... Make you buy MS VPC with MS Windows, which will be including MS Office 2000 Personal Edition (need to buy an update for Office XP Pro = + $300)... for a "mere" $ 1.000 ?

CAN'T THEY LEAVE ANYBODY ALONE? *^&&*)*^&%$$%$ !!!!!!

[jethroted]

It's been nice knowing you virtual pc. Once again the MS devil has done it's deed to the world. Screw you Microsoft.

[QuiteSure]

I see nice Office/VPC bundles coming our way. It would also not surprise me to see VPC now bundled with iMacs. I would also expect to see the MacBU truly improve VPC.

This is a really good thing. MS does not want Apple to die, for many reasons.

1. Competition, so there DOJ!
2. Really cool computers to use and ripoff.
3. A separate market for MS products.

Imagine a house (or business) with a Windows machine and a "switcher" who wants to add the ability to use iLife apps so buys an iMac. Switcher may also want to use Office and other Windows apps. If the 2 computers are not networked Gates & Co. can now sell:

Windows license for PC ($100)
Office for PC ($400)
Office for Mac ($400)
VPC for Mac ($100)
Windows license for VPC for Mac ($100)
Total: $1100

If, on the other hand, the second computer is not a mac and there is no networking, Gates sells:

Windows license for PC ($100)
Office for PC ($400)
Windows license for 2d PC. ($100)
Total $600

(I presume that the Office for PC will do double duty in this household).

Gates loses out of $500 (or some such sum) if no Mac is bought.

Gates does not want to lose $500.

Woo hoo! Bring on MSVPC!!

[windboy]

Every time someone buys Virtual PC another XP licence is sold... How could Redmond be disappointed with that? Even if you are a "switcher" redmond still gets to clip the OS ticket. (Man can never have enough OS's).

The other upside side is that it gives Microsoft some skin in the game in getting .NET to work on a Mac platform (although currently in a round about way). Not wanting to cast grey clouds on the Java kids in the audience, but as a .NET developer, it would be sure nice to be able to get a Mac for codin'.

[bdkennedy1]

Originally posted by nickgold
Why is everybody freaking out? The Mac BU which, despite some issues, is actually one of the best units at MS, is going to be absorbing the parts of Connectix that were working on virtual PC beforehand. If anything, this is POSITIVE, as it means MS will have more ability to optimize the function of Windows under Mac OS X.

Are you kidding? The same Mac BU that serves up Internet Explorer for OS X on a silver platter of molasses? The same Mac BU that last gave us a minor IE update a year ago?

[frogmella]

Of course, you'll only ever be able to buy VPC with WinXP bundled; there'll no longer be bare or Win 98/2000/NT versions.

[jaykk]

M$ have more bargaining power now, it controls it all - Browser, Office and now cross-platform compatiblity. If they want to sell MSVPC, they have to make sure there are less software for Mac, and sell a VPC for $500, Win for $200 and Office for another $500. Its getting worse, I dont see anything good coming out of this, M$ having more control over Mac Software market. Come on Apple, we need our own Document/AppleWorks Pro software.

[utilizer]

Windows and Mac joint developers: it's imperative that you continue to develop a Macintosh version of your software now. A Windows version just won't cut it nowadays. We see this in Intuit, which I say kudos to them! This is the reason why Microsoft is making this move today.

MY PREDICTION:

The IBM 970 will clobber the any x86 offerring out there later on this year. M$ knows this. By making such a move, they will then develop a Virtual PC version for Windows that runs Mac programs, therefore launching their own true switch campaign. The Virtual PC for Mac will be killed and most likely, Virtual PC for Windows will be built into the system as some sort of component, much like Classic is in OS X.
You can run iTunes, iCal, etc.

I sure hope I'm wrong but this could be the time for Apple to get the "virtual carbon paper" out and start copying the major Windows programs that come out only for Windows, and not for the Mac platform in the future, thereby making their own unique program.

[macktheknife]

Read all about it:

http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/0302/19.macbu.php

Microsoft acquires Virtual PC from Connectix
by Jim Dalrymple, jdalrymple@maccentral.com
February 19, 2003 2:50 pm ET

Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday announced that they had acquired Connectix Corp.'s Virtual PC products, including Virtual PC for Mac, Virtual PC for Windows and Virtual Server. Microsoft also hired many of the Connectix employees that worked on the products to continue development.

"What this means for Mac users is that Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit (MacBU) will be responsible for supporting and shipping all current versions of Virtual PC and development for all future versions of the product," Tim McDonough, director of marketing and business development for the Macintosh Business Unit, told MacCentral.

The MacBU has made several announcements recently for Mac users, including forthcoming support for Exchange servers in Entourage and MSN for Mac OS X. Development of the next version of Microsoft Office is also ongoing, something McDonough says shows the ongoing commitment of the MacBU to the platform.

"This is just another sign that we're committed to the Mac by broadening the products we bring to the platform," said McDonough. "This is a product we will continue to offer and improve."

McDonough said that the acquisition of Virtual PC fits in well with the MacBU's strategy of offering Mac users compatibility with their Windows using counterparts. Applications like Microsoft Office allow near seamless integration between platforms and the MacBU will work to make Virtual PC work even better with the Windows OS and Windows-based Microsoft applications.

"This fits very well with how we look at our strategy -- this is all about compatibility," said McDonough. "Our products are all about letting Mac users be compatible with people running Windows; this is a natural extension of that strategy."

While Microsoft has no immediate plans to change Virtual PC for Mac, they do have a development team, marketing and planning teams already in place and are evaluating the product line. Microsoft is looking at the current product roadmap from Connectix and will decide where to take the product at a later date.

With the inclusion of Virtual PC into the product line of the MacBU, Microsoft will now support the Virtual PC application, the operating system that runs in Virtual PC and any Windows-based Microsoft applications that run in Virtual PC.

The goal for the MacBU is to have seamless compatibility between Windows and Mac OS X, according to McDonough.

"We think this is a great thing for the future of Virtual PC," said McDonough. There is probably nobody better than the Mac Business Unit at Microsoft to bring Windows onto the Mac."

[CrackedButter]

I was going to mention this on slashdot but i hate there bbs system.

Anyway with Apples implemenation of X11 would this not be their ace in the hole?

Think about it, they are doing this so that linux software works on the mac thus opening up 1000's of peices of software for the mac.

Whats the first thing i WOULD do IF MS stop updating VPC? Install crossover Office, there you go, Office running on a mac again...after that example where does it stop?

It would be cheaper as well and you don't need windows either.
Anybody agree?

[BWhaler]

This makes me sick to my stomach.

Under no stretch of the imagination is this good for Apple and Mac users. Yes, MS wants to sell Windows licenses, but they'd much rather do it on an Intel machine. That way, they can also sell you the hundred of other apps they make that are PC only. Further, they can sell you the .net personal services that are coming down the pipe.

Net/net: this puts a big piece of Apple's vibrancy in Microsoft's control. And for this reason over any other, this is very, very bad news for us. There is no silver lining here. It's naive to think otherwise.

[arn]

It looks like it's true... please direct further comments towards this news item:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?threadid=20499

[pimentoLoaf]

I'm reading this as I am, just now, undoing the shrink-wrap on VPC6 w/WinXP Home. I'm not wondering though if this is a good or bad thing: I truly believe that Microsoft can provide better service of their OS's through direct control of the VPC product.

[Bytore]

Maybe Apple can implement that/
http://bochs.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/topper.pl?name=See+All+Releases&url=http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.phpqmrkgroup_ideq12580

[nighthawk]

If MS EOL's VPC, that might be the BEST thing that can happen!

The Apple would get involved and port WINE to run native to OSX, and without the NEED to buy WindowsXP OS, we have Windows compatiblity. Who knows, Apple might decide to do that anyways even if MS did continue the project. It would be a definite key selling point to OSX 10.3 or 10.4.

[ryan]

Originally posted by nighthawk
If MS EOL's VPC, that might be the BEST thing that can happen!

The Apple would get involved and port WINE to run native to OSX, and without the NEED to buy WindowsXP OS, we have Windows compatiblity. Who knows, Apple might decide to do that anyways even if MS did continue the project. It would be a definite key selling point to OSX 10.3 or 10.4.
There's no point in "porting" WINE to run natively on OSX. WINE is not an emulator, VPC is, there is a HUGE difference.

[CrackedButter]

This is why i mentioned crossover office.